Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-06-29
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS.
A Long Delayed Pension-the Rev.
enue Marine-offices Declined.


| WASHINGTON, June 2O-The subject Of
pensions has generally but little interes
for anyone but individual pensioners anG
their families, but the payment of the
longest back pensions ever paid by the
government was to Francis Patterson, q
blind beggar of Elmira, n Y. 1t is inter.
esting enough to form the plot of novel
When he was soldi@ in the Union army
during the war, one day while on picket
duty Patterson became suddenly blind.
| He wandered around helplessly for some
days, and being missed from camp he was
classed as a deserter. On his return to
Elmira his wife and children abandoned
| him on account, probably, of his disposi-
ton to drunkenness. For eighteen years
he Went begging about the town led by a
| trained shepherd dog, his only friend.
Now the possession of 1882 the amount
| OF his back pension, and the surety of $72
month during his life time, has caused
his family and former friends to rally
around him to that degree that he is in
danger of being reduced to returning to
his former partnership with the dog
through their avarice and greed. He ap-
piled for pension some years ago, but
the difficulty of explaining away the
charge of desertion caused the delay.
The American Telephone Company are
unpleasantly conspicuous at present
through the publicity given the former
life OF its vice president, T. W. Tyrer. MIR.
Tyrer has lived for several years in Wash
ington and has been largely interested in
the North Washington Improvement Com
pany. Some enemies of his and the COM
pany have published these statements in
order to break down Tyrer and the COM
pany. The latter seem able to stand the
assault, as an investigation by a committee
OF the stockholders develops no fraudu-
lent transaction, but Tyrer will probably
go to the wall, as the charges against
him are true. Mr.. Tyrer does not deny
having served term for forgery in Min
nesota.
The proposal to utilize the revenue
marine by appointing graduates of the
United States naval academy to the va
cancies in that service is again under dis
cussion. As it now stands the graduates
OF the academy are given $1,000 and rele-
gated to private life, with the exception of
few who stand at the head of the class.
They are appointed to such places as may
be vacant in the navy at the time of their
graduation. The idea is that the revenue
marine service offers a field of usefulness
for the other graduates. The secretaries
OF the treasury and navy, to whose iuris-
diction the matter belongs, are mute on
the subject; but officers of experience and
judgement, like Commodore Schley and
Commodore Walker, express themselves
cordially in favor of the scheme.
The president held a reception in the
east room on Monday afternoon, the first
since his return from the Adirondacks.
There were not many persons present, but
those who were commented on Mr.. Cleve- |
lands improved appearance since his va
cation. Mrs. Cleveland is still away. She |
is now paying a visit to friend and
school-mate, Miss Kingsford of Oswego,
New York. The president takes his Gus.
tomary afternoon drive to Oak View and |
his dinner on his return to the white |
house, at seven, alone, with the memory
OF his bachelor days for company. How
pleasant the present must appear in con-
trast with the past.
Five men appointed under civil service
rules have declined the positions offered !
them. 1t being Inadequate to the require |
ments OF the mination-stenography |
penmanship and the higher branches of |
mathematics were some of the require |
ments. Those who pass do not have a |
very high reward for their efforts. while |
those who fail have the comfort of knowing |
that they are still eligible for the presi-
dency.